NASCAR Has the Most Interesting Sponsors In Sports

In the sport of NASCAR, as in many professional sports, it is certainly the sponsors that make it all possible.

But what makes the sport of NASCAR even more interesting is the diversity and uniqueness of the sponsors that have chosen to not only support stock car racing, but to invest in it as an asset to their own market development.

This race season as in the past, several NASCAR sponsors are focusing on fans’ health, using both race cars and trucks to market their unique products. For example, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champ Ron Hornaday has an interesting returning sponsor in Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, a product billed as America’s original, best-selling tobacco-free smokeless snuff.

Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff plans on advertising its wares as primary sponsor on Hornaday’s No. 9 Chevrolet race truck for at least twelve races, starting at Daytona. The sponsor will also serve as an associate sponsor for the remaining ten events in the Truck Series.

“It’s clear that Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff is a young but growing company but I look forward to taking them to the front of the field this year, not only on the race track but in the marketplace,” driver Ron Hornaday said.

In addition to snuff, supplement sponsors are also seemingly hot in NASCAR this year. One recent example is Nutrition53, a health supplement company coming on board to sponsor the No. 30 Toyota driven by David Stremme for Swan Racing.

Nutrition53 is owned by Bill Romanowski, an NFL veteran, who has also joined forces with team owner Brandon Davis to take the race team to the next level and forge a unique sponsor partnership.

“Bill Romanowski understands what it takes to win, which makes him a perfect fit at Swan Racing,” majority owner Brandon Davis said. “Bill is the only linebacker to start in five Super Bowls and he did it playing for four different teams.”

“His leadership skills and approach to successful competition will help Swan Racing become a championship contender.”

“I am thrilled to jump into the NASCAR world as a part owner and as a sponsor,” Romanowski said. “I’m eager to be a part of it.”

From supplements and snuff to construction sponsors, NASCAR again seems to have it all. NASCAR veteran Dave Blaney is one driver who will benefit on the construction side, being sponsored in 2013 by new company SANY America.

SANY America, the sixth largest industrial equipment company in the world, will serve as primary sponsor for Blaney’s #7 Chevrolet for 14 Cup events and will serve as associate partner for 22 races. The company sells cranes, concrete pump machinery, excavators and other heavy equipment.

JJ Yeley, another NASCAR driver, will be sponsored by another equipment company, this one in the mining world. United Mining Equipment will sponsor Yeley for three races, serving as primary sponsor on the Tommy Baldwin Racing #36 Chevrolet.

United Mining Equipment, based in Butler, PA, had their first taste of NASCAR racing at Homestead last year and decided they were hooked. They have signed on for both the Bristol and Kentucky races in 2013.

“United Mining Equipment tested TBR and NASCAR out at Homestead-Miami Speedway last year and really liked what they saw,” Tommy Baldwin, Jr., team owner, said. “By expanding their program this year emphasizes that our program and NASCAR can work for any business category.”

Of course, NASCAR sponsors can also be as diverse as playing safely around rail road tracks to getting lucky in lottery land.

On the railroad safety side, CSX Transportation has announced a new partnership with Front Row Motorsports and driver David Ragan to remind fast to “Play It Safe” around rail road tracks. The company will be the primary sponsor on Ragan’s No. 34 race car throughout the 2013 season.

“It’s important for all of us to be safe around railroad crossings and tracks,” Ragan said. “Far too many incidents occur each year simply because people don’t recognize the danger associated with taking unnecessary chances around railroads.”

“I’m glad CSX is bringing the issue to the forefront of the NASCAR fan base and I’m honored to champion their message.”

For some race fans, while safety is critical, they would also like to be just plain lucky. That’s why the Florida Lottery has decided on sponsoring Tommy Baldwin Racing for the three races that will take place in the Florida area.

“We at TBR are so happy to have the Florida Lottery back for the Daytona 500, the summer Daytona race and the season finale at Homestead-Miami speedway,” Baldwin, Jr. said. “It’s a great program for us as we help spread the word about the Lottery and their program.”

And finally, there are even sponsors who just want to be involved for the good of the order. One such sponsor ‘want to be’, PETA, is looking to get on the hood of a race car and they have a particular one in mind.

PETA has their sights set on NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who has some available space on his hood. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has postulated that since Junior cares about four-legged critters and since he has some blank parts on his car that this could potentially be a match made in charity sponsor heaven.

“PETA knows that Dale cares about animals and we’d love to have his help in fighting the animal overpopulation crisis in North Carolina and across the US,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said. “A spay and neuter message on the No. 88 could inspire millions of NASCAR fans to take the simple but lifesaving steps of ‘fixing’ their dogs and cats.”

Yes, indeed, from PETA to the Florida Lottery, NASCAR most surely does have the most interesting sponsors in the world of professional sports. And that is what makes the cars on the track go round and round.

Mary Jo has lived and breathed racing since her days at local dirt tracks. From her vantage in the pits, she has developed an interest and expertise in all levels of racing, from go karts to the Cup Series. Many of her articles focus on the "behind the scenes" racing world, as well as up and coming drivers. Mary Jo enjoys writing about the people that make NASCAR and racing work on a day-to-day basis. She recently won an NMPA award for spot news writing. Mary Jo can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter.

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